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Parents Turn to Pinterest to Make DIY Wheelchair for Paralyzed Daughter

When 1-year-old Evelyn Moore of Alberta, Canada, was just four months old, she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of cancer usually found in the adrenal glands. After undergoing eight rounds of chemotherapy to treat her inoperable tumor, her cancer went into remission. But Evelyn's cancer has left her permanently paralyzed below the arms.

After the diagnosis, doctors told Evelyn's mother, Kim Moore, that her daughter would have to "army crawl" until two years old, then would be old enough to use a wheelchair.

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Kim then turned to Pinterest for DIY wheelchair options. She handed the plans over to her husband and Evelyn's father, Brad, who created the wheelchair in one night.

The wheelchair consists of a Bumbo seat, a type of chair common among many babies, a cutting board, and small wheels from a children's bike. Altogether the project cost about $100.

Evelyn's parents want to give their daughter the chance to be more independent and the ability to explore like any other child.

“She went backwards first and then she went forwards, and then she figured out how to turn,” Moore told The Star. “And now we have a speed bump in the middle of our living room because she just goes that fast.”

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.